police, camera, action Leslie Nielsen as the (relatively) straight-faced Detective Frank Drebin

76 • Rolling Stone, July-August 2011 abc photo archive/Getty/gallo T manded manded too much attention from viewers, at ABC felt heavyweights the release, DVD eventual show’s the on commentary the to According episodes. cancelled network the magazines, TV to fans from everyone baffled that move a In ABC. at executives the were however, show, the ate appreci to seem didn’t who The people only screen. small the on well and alive made had that goofiness inimitable same the that ed suggest then nominations the Emmy two enough, wasn’t appreciation critical the appeared Squad! remains absurdity of flashes liant bril occasional, and faux-drama anced pant silliness, which the with skill he bal ram the amid man’ ‘straight series’ the be lead. show’s to intended the was as Drebin Nielsen’s – Though actor dramatic skilled until had, who – Nielsen casting about twice oping devel were they when so gold, comedy the Zuckers quickly they’d realized struck and Abrahams catchphrase. ie’s unofficial mov the became quickly routine Shirley” me call “Don’t whose Rumack, Barry Dr. of portrayal deadpan his for Nielsen lie Les upon heaped was praise special ed, laud universally was movie the While seminal now the with 1980 in movie disaster humble the lampooned ly and like serials cop classic spoofing with experiment to chance first their er Jim Zuck Jerry Zuckerand of David Abrahams, trio filmmaking the gave which series ABC short-lived the without existed have never would sequels) successful less admittedly its (and movie the history, moments cinematic during in en most the of some yielded have cops fellow his and Drebin Frank Detective of How the adventures of Detective Frank Drebin anetwork’s survived Debuting in March 1982, the series series the 1982, March in Debuting successful had filmmakers three The The New Breed New The Airplane! oie Squad! Police ’s most celebrated hallmark. ’s celebrated most to be a resounding success. If If success. resounding a be to while the slapstick adventures adventures slapstick the while But time. all of movies comedy best the of polls tops regularly film gun’ ‘naked first he Police Squad! Police Airplane! wrath, and spawned one of comedy’s franchises greatest , been forging a career as a as , a been forging career . such a success, was , they didn’t think think didn’t they , Police Squad! Police Police Squad! Police after just four PoliceSquad! Airplane! Dragnet Police Police de ------,

the show in any way, or form. any shape show in the in featured norLincolnneither Hamilton – Lincoln Abraham gun-toting a playing Harrison Rex of shot a with interspersed was actors the introducing as mundane as something Even name. different a read would announcer the but up, flash would title episode The off. killed immediately was who star, guest special a would introduce car, squad now-legendary the of sist con which credits, opening The episode. only each of not outset the from was began it gags relentless, visual of slew The center. and front was there than background the there was as much (if not more) going on in case, theobliviously continueddiscussing characters principal the while pool ming pha swim a at stopping Egyptian elevator the orof raohs, outlines chalk the – office in reverse if he was on his way to‘back’ the drive he’d – Italy also Little through drove he as car Drebin’s behind showing seum Colos Roman the of footage stock the was offerWhether were gone it in a heartbeat. many and that gags best the of moment, a for away Look point. a recorded. ashow ever for cancelling finish. It wasto one of thestart strangest from reasons screen the to glued weren’t they if by them pass muchwould that and shows that missed the middle east thatmiddle the shows missed Which is not to say that they didn’t have Peter Lupus, Ed Williams Ed Lupus, Peter Starring: Zucker, Jerry Zucker by: Created First Broadcast: By Matt Ross By Matt REWIND REWIND Leslie Nielsen, Alan North, Jim Abrahams, David David Abrahams, Jim 1982 on ABC 1982 on PoliceSquad! had to - - - - characters walk through doorways, then then doorways, through walk characters res other let would played TedOlsen, who scientist ident Williams, Ed wall. the broke fourth repeatedly, and often, acters Char itself. at fun poking also about shy was not show The made. being was joke a with them enough to intelligence be able credited to tell when and respect, most ut the with prin audiences treated cast deadpan cipal The good. own its for clever gether less hilarious place. hilarious less gether alto an be would world the And today. is he behemoth comic the become have ever it’s doubtful episodes, priceless six, those Without ry. that Frankhisto comedy of annals the in down go ly Drebinsubsequent would would and wholesale, cled recy even were gags the of Several ever. as viewers with popular as was silliness unashamed and entendres double nious inge gags, visual non-sequiturs, of blend trademark the – show TV the from vivors sur only the were Al of character faceless the and Williams Nielsen, – changed was lice Squad! in returned Drebin Frank 1988, in and for, it cred them gave network the than cepting Audiences were a lot execs. moreABC ac the not right, were Zuckers the and hams forever. gone purposes, and intents all for and, stalled movie a into series the make to plans Initial air. to episodes ther fur two just allowed ABC and casual viewers, to alienating deemed was adays now watch to joy a such show the makes escape). to opportunity this takes crook captured memo a one episode, rable (in roll to credits the took it as long as for possible as still as keep to try the But time. the of serials freeze- cop of ending frame traditional the aping pose, a would strike actors the point which at one-liner, cheesy suitably a on end would episode show’s closing were credits Each reflexive. the Even side. other the on them with up meet to set the of edge the around stroll The Naked Gun: From the Files of Po of Files the From Gun: Naked The If anything, anything, If With hindsight, it’s clear that Abra that clear it’s hindsight, With Sadly, the sheer comedic that intensity Rolling Stone, July-August 2011 • July-August Stone, Rolling PoliceSquad! Though the majority of the cast cast the of majority the Though PoliceSquad! cast would simply Police Squad! Squad! Police was too was was

77 ------